Foldable electronic device including display module

Abstract

A foldable electronic device may comprise: a foldable housing comprising a first housing part and a second housing part, a hinge module comprising a hinge connected to the first housing part and the second housing, and configured to rotatably connect the first housing part and the second housing part about a folding axis positioned between the first housing part and the second housing part, and a display module comprising a display disposed on the first housing part and the second housing part, the display module further includes a flexible display panel, a glass layer disposed on the flexible display, a cover window attached on the glass layer via a first attachment member comprising an adhesive material having a first attaching force in a central area of the display module, and a protective layer disposed adjacent to a side surface of the cover window in an edge area of the display module formed on an outside of the central area and attached on the glass layer via a second attachment member comprising an adhesive material having a second attaching force stronger than the first attaching force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable electronic device comprising:
 a foldable housing comprising a first housing part and a second housing part;   a hinge module comprising a hinge connected to the first housing part and the second housing part, and configured to rotatably connect the first housing part and the second housing part about a folding axis positioned between the first housing part and the second housing part; and   a display module comprising a display disposed on the first housing part and the second housing part,   wherein the display module further includes   a flexible display panel;   a glass layer disposed on the flexible display;   a cover window attached on the glass layer via a first attachment member comprising an adhesive material having a first attaching force in a central area of the display module; and   a protective layer disposed adjacent to a side surface of the cover window in an edge area of the display module formed on an outside of the central area and attached on the glass layer via a second attachment member comprising an adhesive material having a second attaching force stronger than the first attaching force.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second attachment member comprises a first portion covering a portion of an upper surface of the glass layer and a second portion covering a side surface of the glass layer.   
     
     
         3 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein a portion of an edge of the cover window protrudes above the protective layer.   
     
     
         4 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the display module comprises a folding area formed in an area adjacent to the folding axis and configured to bend during a process in which the foldable electronic device changes from an unfolded stated to a folded stated, and a non-folding area formed on a side farther from the folding axis based on the folding area,   wherein, in at least a portion of the non-folding area, an upper surface of the cover window is formed in a position protruding more than an upper surface of the protective layer, and   wherein, in the folding area, the upper surface of the cover window is formed in a position recessed more than the upper surface of the protective layer.   
     
     
         5 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the side surface of the cover window comprises a first inclined surface inclined such that an upper surface of the cover window has a first width and a lower surface of the cover window has a second width smaller than the first width.   
     
     
         6 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 5 ,
 wherein a side surface, facing the cover window, of the protective layer comprises a second inclined surface inclined corresponding to the first inclined surface such that an upper surface of the protective layer has a third width and a lower surface of the protective layer has a fourth width larger than the third width.   
     
     
         7 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the display module further comprises a masking part, at least a portion of the masking part is disposed between the protective layer and the second attachment member.   
     
     
         8 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the masking part comprises a first masking part disposed between the protective layer and the second attachment member, and a second masking part disposed between the cover window and the protective layer.   
     
     
         9 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the side surface of the cover window comprises a first inclined surface inclined such that an upper surface of the cover window has a first width and a lower surface of the cover window has a second width smaller than the first width, and   wherein the second masking part comprises a portion inclined corresponding to the first inclined surface.   
     
     
         10 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a non-conductive member comprising a non-conductive material disposed along an edge of the foldable housing and configured to cover an edge portion of the display module,   wherein the display module at least partially overlaps the non-conductive member in a thickness direction of the foldable housing.   
     
     
         11 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the protective layer comprises an overlapping portion overlapping the non-conductive member in the thickness direction, and a non-overlapping portion formed in an inner side of the overlapping portion.   
     
     
         12 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the protective layer is disposed in an area overlapping the non-conductive member in the thickness direction, and   wherein the display module comprises a masking part comprising a first masking part disposed between the protective layer and the second attachment member, and a third masking part adjacent to the first masking part and disposed between the cover window and the first attachment member.   
     
     
         13 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 12 ,
 wherein, in an area between the first masking part and the third masking part, the flexible display panel is configured to not emit light or to output a color corresponding to the masking part.   
     
     
         14 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first attachment member comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and   wherein the second attachment member comprises an optical clear adhesive.   
     
     
         15 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the optical clear adhesive comprises an optical clear resin.   
     
     
         16 . A display module, comprising:
 a flexible display panel;   a glass layer disposed on the flexible display;   a cover window attached on the glass layer via a first attachment member comprising an adhesive material having a first attaching force in a central area of the display module; and   a protective layer disposed adjacent to a side surface of the cover window in an edge area of the display module formed on an outside of the central area and attached on the glass layer via a second attachment member comprising an adhesive material having a second attaching force stronger than the first attaching force.   
     
     
         17 . The display module of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the second attachment member comprises a first portion covering a portion of an upper surface of the glass layer and a second portion covering a side surface of the glass layer.   
     
     
         18 . The display module of  claim 16 ,
 wherein a portion of an edge of the cover window protrudes above the protective layer.   
     
     
         19 . The display module of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the side surface of the cover window comprises a first inclined surface inclined such that an upper surface of the cover window has a first width and a lower surface of the cover window has a second width smaller than the first width.   
     
     
         20 . The display module of  claim 19 ,
 wherein a side surface, facing the cover window, of the protective layer comprises a second inclined surface inclined corresponding to the first inclined surface such that an upper surface of the protective layer has a third width and a lower surface of the protective layer has a fourth width larger than the third width.